The library strives to provide a safe, educational and fun environment for you and your children. Note the following guidelines for Storyville:

Parental supervision is required. We provide Storyville staff to guide you and answer questions, but we do not provide supervision of your children. You are responsible for their safety and comfort. Please do not leave your children unattended

Storyville was designed specifically for children birth to age 5. Please make other arrangements for older children. There is a full-service children’s area in the main part of the library

To promote active engagement, please bring one adult for every three children

Help us maintain a clean and sanitary environment by keeping all food and drink out of Storyville. Nursing and bottle-feeding of infants is permitted

For the safety of our littlest visitors, the Baby Garden is reserved for babies who are not yet walking and their caregivers

Please be courteous and attentive by keeping your cell phones on silent and other electronic devices off. Save cell phone conversations for the lobby. Laptop use is not permitted

Guide your children to choose developmentally appropriate toys and play constructively. Young children thrive on realistic limit-setting and positive reinforcement

Assist your child in putting away materials in one area before moving on to another. This teaches your child the importance of clean up, as well as respect for others who will follow them

Have fun playing with your children! Show delight in what they can do. Follow their lead. Encourage them to take each learning experience further.

Storyville is busiest on weekday mornings and weekend afternoons, particularly on days when Story Time events are being held at the branch. If we reach capacity (60), you may have to wait to enter. Reservations are not accepted. Feel free to call the branch ahead of time to check the status.

Storyville is designed for individual caregivers and their children to experience together, but you may arrange visits for your group. A group of 15 or fewer children and at least one adult for every three children is recommended.

Review the Storyville Guidelines with your group before your visit. We encourage a group leader to take a tour of Storyville ahead of the visit to consider appropriate activities.

We cannot guarantee that your group will be able to enter together at one time. Please contact the Storyville Coordinator to notify them of your visit and make arrangements for your group.

Storyville is designed for children birth to age 5. While school-age children may find Storyville inviting, they are at a different developmental level and are encouraged to explore other areas of the library and programs that are appropriate for them. Please note that Maryland Law requires children under age 8 to be accompanied by a caregiver while in the library.

Babysitters age 13 or older may accompany children in Storyville. Teenage babysitters must understand that they are considered an adult in Storyville and are expected to interact with and supervise the younger children they are with at all times.

We do not allow adults without children in Storyville. Adults may call ahead to arrange for a tour with a staff member.

To maintain an organized and hygienic environment, Storyville is cleaned throughout the day. We ask our visitors to help by encouraging their children to use our materials appropriately and put them away before moving to a new area. Visitors are invited to place any toys they feel need cleaning in our Sanitize Me bin at the greeter desk.

Volunteer opportunities for ages 14 and older are sometimes available at the Storyville locations.

Rovers interact with Storyville visitors to help promote early literacy skills and the importance of learning through play, answer visitor's questions about Storyville, shelve books and organize and clean areas as needed.

Cleaners maintain, organize and sanitize Storyville materials and areas routinely and as needed.

Please contact the branch you would like to volunteer in. We cannot guarantee that there will be work available at all times and are under no obligation to accept volunteers.

Support Storyville

Storyville is made possible through donations from the Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library, state and local government funds and individuals like you.